{
  "abstract": "This study integrates AMS 14C dating of 12 plant specimens, Bayesian modeling, and Tibetan texts to establish the first high-resolution construction chronology for key structures of the Guge ancient city in western Tibet. To ensure chronological precision and mitigate the old-wood effect, sampling prioritized short-lived annual plants and the outermost growth layers of small-diameter timber. Radiocarbon data were processed using the IntCal20 calibration curve and constrained by independent historical termini ante quos derived from mural inscriptions and prayer texts. The findings delineate three primary developmental phases: an Early Construction Phase (mid-to-late 15th century) encompassing the VIF27 complex, dated to 1457–1471 CE; a White Temple Phase (mid-16th century) focused on Buddha statues, which ended between 1556 and 1560 CE; and a Late Defensive Phase (mid-17th to late 18th century) involving the reinforcement of Watchtower VIII D2 (1661–1813 CE), possibly in response to regional conflicts. Notably, the use of herbaceous samples successfully resolved the 16th-century calibration plateau ambiguities, aligning the production closely with the reign of King Jig rten dbang phyug. This systematic framework provides a robust empirical foundation for understanding the architectural evolution and socio-political transformations of the Guge Kingdom.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Art and Design, Guangzhou Maritime University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China",
    "Visual Culture Research Center, Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China",
    "Tibetan Institute of the Preservation of Cultural Relics, Lhasa, China",
    "Department of Cultural Heritage Protection and anagement, Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China",
    "Shaanxi Academy of Archaeology, Xi'an, China"
  ],
  "article_type": "Research Article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 6,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Xiaoli He"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Changqing Fu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Jiaming Niu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Shargan Wangdue"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Zhijian Cao"
    },
    {
      "name": "Jianlin Zhang"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/47d85jsywc1e6.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1371/journal.pone.0353853",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "47d85jsywc1e6",
  "issns": [
    "1932-6203"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0353853",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "1911|Archaeology and ancient environmental studies"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Agriculture/Agronomy/Plant products/Timber"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Agriculture/Crop science/Plant products/Timber"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Plant science/Plant anatomy/Wood"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Engineering and technology/Structural engineering/Built structures"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/People and places/Population groupings/Ethnicities/Asian people/Tibetan people"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Research and analysis methods/Chemical characterization/Isotope analysis/Radioactive carbon dating"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Social sciences/Anthropology/Cultural anthropology/Religion"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Social sciences/Archaeology"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Social sciences/Archaeology/Archaeological dating"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Social sciences/Archaeology/Archaeological dating/Radioactive carbon dating"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Social sciences/Sociology/Religion"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7214941206",
  "pdf_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0353853&type=printable",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-30",
  "publisher": "Public Library of Science",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/47d85jsywc1e6.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:37Z",
      "native_id": "10.1371/journal.pone.0353853",
      "source": "plos",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0353853"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "plos:plant science",
      "subfield": "plant-biology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Dating the key structures of the Guge ancient city through integrated ¹⁴C and literary research",
  "title_text": "Dating the key structures of the Guge ancient city through integrated ¹⁴C and literary research",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:37Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/47d85jsywc1e6",
  "venue": "PLOS One",
  "versions": []
}